Mixer water faucet

ABSTRACT

A mixer water faucet for installation through a bore in a work surface in proximity to a water supply, includes a stationary housing extending transversely through the bore; a faucet body mounted onto the housing, rotatable relative thereto; a main and auxiliary spouts extending from the housing; main and auxiliary supply hoses extending through the housing for conveying water to the main and auxiliary spouts, respectively; and a diverter for selectably directing a supply of water to the main and auxiliary spouts, wherein the main spout rotates about a rotation axis extending through the faucet body, the rotation causing a lateral movement and partial twisting of the auxiliary water supply hose with respect to the main water supply hose thereby to allow thereby to allow freedom of movement of the auxiliary spout and the auxiliary hose during extension and retraction thereof.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/477,091 filed Apr. 2, 2017, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/317,645 filed Apr. 4, 2016. Thecontents of the foregoing patent applications are incorporated byreference herein in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of water faucets and watertaps.

BACKGROUND

A water faucet or water tap is a device able to control the flow ofwater. A water faucet may allow a user to commence and to stop the flowof water from a plumbing system or from a water-delivery system. A waterfaucet may further allow a user to modify the pressure of water flow, orthe volume of water that flows per time unit.

Some water faucets may be implemented as a “mixer tap”, for example,featuring a single handle enabling the user to mix hot water supply withcold water supply, to achieve a desired temperature.

Also known are mixer faucets having a nozzle incorporating a sprayfunction in the spout are also known, the nozzle often being attached bya hose which is long enough to permit it to be pulled out.

The size of the hole or bore required to accommodate a mixer faucet isusually about 35 mm, while the outside dimensions of the faucet body aretypically 35-50 mm. While the sizes of hose used depends on the desiredwater flow exiting the faucet, its external diameter will normally be noless than 8 mm.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, there is provided amixer water faucet for installation through a bore in a work surface inproximity to a water supply, which includes:

a stationary housing extending transversely through the bore;

a faucet body mounted onto the housing, rotatable relative thereto;

a main spout and an auxiliary spout extending from the housing;

a main water supply hose for conveying water to the main spout and anauxiliary water supply hose for conveying water to the auxiliary spout,the main water supply hose and the auxiliary water supply hose extendingthrough the housing; and

a diverter for selectably directing a supply of water to the main spoutand the auxiliary spout,

wherein the main spout rotates about a rotation axis extending throughthe faucet body, the rotation causing a lateral movement and partialtwisting of the auxiliary water supply hose with respect to the mainwater supply hose thereby to allow thereby to allow freedom of movementof the auxiliary spout and the auxiliary hose during extension andretraction thereof.

Additionally in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, theauxiliary spout is removably mounted onto a rear portion of the faucetbody for use at a location relatively remote from the main spout, andthe auxiliary water supply hose is adapted for extension through thehousing when the auxiliary spout is removed from the faucet body, andfor retraction through the housing when re-mounted onto the faucet body.

Further in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the auxiliaryspout is a pull-up water spraying element which is located and mountedbehind the faucet body and is held or mounted generally-verticallytherebehind; and

the pull-up water spraying element is releasable from the faucet body bybeing pulled in an upward direction.

Additionally in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, thestationary housing has a base having a base opening formed therein andan upper portion having formed therein a main opening aligned with thebase opening, and further having an auxiliary opening communicating withthe base opening aligned along an auxiliary axis, eccentric from a mainaxis,

the main water supply hose enters the housing through the base opening,and exits the housing though the main opening, and

the auxiliary water supply hose enters the housing through the baseopening adjacent to the main water supply hose, and exits the housingthrough the auxiliary opening, the alignment of the auxiliary watersupply hose translating from a first auxiliary axis on entry into thebase opening to a second auxiliary axis on exit from the auxiliaryopening, wherein the first and second auxiliary axes are eccentric withrespect to the rotation axis.

Further in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the baseopening is formed to allow the lateral movement and partial twisting ofthe auxiliary water supply hose with respect to the main water supplyhose with respect to each other.

Additionally in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the mainwater supply hose is aligned along the main axis which is eccentric withrespect to the rotation axis.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The term “faucet” or “water faucet” as used herein may include, forexample, any suitable faucet or tap or valve that controls the flow ofwater or other liquids; including, but not limited to, a water faucetintended for installation and utilization in a home, a household, adwelling, an office, a business venue, a factory, a kitchen, a bathroom,a restroom, indoors, outdoors, and/or other suitable places or venues;such faucet having or utilizing or being controlled by a single handle,or two handles, or a knob, or two knobs, or by other user interfaceelements or controlling elements; and including, but not limited to, apull-out faucet, a pull-down faucet, a single-handle faucet, adouble-handle faucet, a bar faucet, a wall mount faucet, a pot fillerfaucet, a touch-less faucet or hands-free faucet (e.g., activated bysensing a motion of a hand or a gesture of the user), and/or othersuitable types of faucets or taps.

Applicants have realized that in conventional systems, a main waterfaucet is sometimes accompanied by a separate side-spray or side-sprayelement, which is separate and independent from the main water faucet.Applicants have realized that this configuration may suffer from one ormore problems or disadvantages, for example: (a) the need to drill twoseparate holes in a surface or platform (e.g., granite, marble,artificial marble, or other kitchen platform or surface); (b) increasedform-factor, and reduced utilization of the kitchen platform due to thefact that two separate units occupy space, side-by-side or next to eachother; (c) the need to maintain, clean and/or repair two separate units;(d) reduced convenience for some users, who need to reach sideways tograsp the side-spray unit, while the user is standing in proximity to(or in front of) the main water faucet.

Applicants have realized that it may be beneficial or advantageous toprovide an integral or integrated device, which comprises in the sameintegrated unit, referred to as water faucet 10 below: (i) a main waterfaucet, referred to hereinbelow as main spout 20, including a singlehandle that controls the flow of both cold water and hot water; (ii) aspraying unit or a spout unit or spout, referred to hereinbelow asauxiliary spout 26, which is located and/or stored and/or mountedgenerally behind the main water faucet (e.g., immediately adjacent tothe main water faucet; or immediately on its right side or its leftside, immediately adjacent to the main water faucet), and utilizes thesame single-hole drilled in the kitchen platform (e.g., granite, marble,artificial marble); and (iii) a diverter unit, responsive to manualactuation or manual selection of the user via a diverter switch ordiverter lever or diverter button or diverter slider or other diversioninterface, to divert or to direct the flow of water, in a selectivemanner, to either the main water faucet or the spraying unit, and viceversa.

In some embodiments, the combined faucet 10 receives incoming water froma cold water pipe (or tube), referred to as below as cold water hose 32,and from a hot water pipe (or tube), referred to below as hot water hose30; and the diverter mechanism or diverter unit, based on the manualposition or actuation thereof, diverts or directs the mixed water (orthe single stream of water) to either the spraying unit 26 or the mainfaucet 20.

In some embodiments, the spraying or auxiliary 26 is connected to anelongated and flexible pipe or tube, which allows the user to pull-outor to pull-up the spraying unit 26, and to distance it from the waterfaucet or main spout 20, in order to reach locations or areas that themain water faucet 20 (which lets the water flow downwardly and generallyvertically) cannot reach; and which also enables the user to utilize thespraying unit 26 for a variety of tasks, for example, cleaning the sinkor the sink area or the platform next to the faucet, filling-up waterinto a coffee-maker machine or a soda-maker machine or into a pot or apan or a cooking appliance, or the like.

Optionally, the auxiliary spout or spraying-unit 26 may have anactuation button 24, such that only when the user presses the buttondoes water flow out of the auxiliary spout or spraying-unit 26; and suchthat water does not flow out of the spout or spraying-unit once thebutton is depressed or un-pressed or is not touched (or not pressed) anymore by the user. Optionally, the spout or spraying-unit may compriseone or more buttons or user-interface elements (e.g., a lever, a slider,a rotating selector, or the like), which may switch or modify theoperational characteristics of the spout or the spraying unit; forexample, between a regular flow, a “spray” type flow or scattered-flow,an “aerated” flow, a “pause”/“un-pause” button. In some embodiments, theauxiliary spout 26 may have a button to trigger or to cause diversion ofthe water flow, from flowing exclusively through the main faucet 20, tobe diverted into and to flow outwardly exclusively through the spoutingunit or spraying unit. For example, if the lever or handle of the mainfaucet is pulled or moved by a user to enable flow of water, then as a“default route”, the water flows out through the main faucet and not tothe spraying unit; and only if or when the user presses the actuationbutton in the spraying unit, the diversion mechanism is triggered tooperate and the flow of water is diverted to flow out through thepulled-out spraying unit, instead of through the main faucet.

In some embodiments, the main water faucet may comprise, on its rearside 28 (e.g., the side that is located away from the user, or islocated between the faucet and a wall that typically exists behind thefaucet, a particular cavity or channel or crater or rib, that enablesthe secure placement or mounting or holding-in-place of the spout unitor spraying unit, when not in use or after its utilization is over. Insome embodiments, the pulled-out flexible pipe or flexible tube of thespout or spraying-unit, may be inserted back downwardly and may bestored within or under the kitchen platform or under the sink, hiddenaway from the user when not in use.

In some embodiments, the water-outlet of the auxiliary spout 26, whenthe spout is mounted or held-in-place behind the main faucet 20, mayface backwardly or rearward, away from the user, or towards a back-wallthat may be located behind the water faucet. In other embodiments, thewater-outlet of the auxiliary spout 26, when mounted or held-in-placebehind the main faucet 20, may face the front, towards the user, ortowards the rear-side of the main faucet 20 which “hides” or blocks thatwater outlet from the user.

In some embodiments, the pull-up auxiliary spout or spraying unit 26 ofthe present invention, is not merely a pull-out unit that is pulled out(or away) from the main faucet 20, in a downward direction or in ahorizontal direction in order to be released from the grip of (or fromthe holding by) the main water faucet. Rather, the pull-up auxiliaryspout or spraying unit 26 of the present invention is a pull-up unitthat can be pulled up, or upwardly, or only upwardly, or exclusivelyupwardly, in order to be released from the grip of (or from the holdingby) the main faucet 20; and only after such upward-only pull-up for thesafe release of the spout from the rear-side of the water faucet thatholds it, only then may the auxiliary spout unit 26 be moved around thearea flexibly while being connected to the water system via the flexiblepipe or flexible tube thereof.

In some embodiments, optionally, the entirety of the auxiliary spout orspraying-unit 26 may be a generally flat unit, or a rectangular unit, ora box or cuboid or rectangular cuboid unit; and may not comprise anyL-shaped ending or edge or protrusion or spout-area; thereby keeping theform-factor of the unit small, and/or thereby allowing smoother holdingby the user which may hold the unit similar to holding a flat handle andwithout an L-shaped ending or protrusion, and/or thereby enabling theauxiliary spout or spraying-unit 26 to spray water in an un-obstructedmanner from a flat or generally-flat water outlet of the auxiliary spout26 and without being restricted or obstructed by a protrusion or anL-shaped ending of the spout. In other embodiments, the spraying unit orthe auxiliary spout element 26 may be generally flat but may also have aslightly protruding water-outlet at or near its distal end (e.g., awayfrom the base of the faucet), through which the water flows out or issprayed out or is spouted out.

In some embodiments, the auxiliary spout element or the spraying element26 may be structured to exactly complement a generally-vertical crateror insert or crater than is indented into the rear-side of the mainwater faucet 20; such that the integrated device 10, namely the mainwater faucet 20 in the front and the held-in-place auxiliary spout unit26 in the back, together form a perfect or generally-perfect cylinder orrectangular cuboid or other shape which is generally straight and lacksprotrusions or craters.

In some embodiments, the water faucet system 10 of the present inventionand/or its units or elements, may be utilized in (or may be implementedas): a pull-up water faucet system, a single-state or dual-statepull-out water faucet system, and/or other suitable types of waterfaucet systems.

In some embodiments, optionally, a user may permanently or temporarilyremove or cancel the operation of the auxiliary spraying unit 26; forexample, by adding or inserting or appending or inserting a suitableseal or blocking-element or cover or water-blocker or similar element,at or near the externally-facing water-outlet of the spraying unitand/or at the base-area of the spraying unit and/or within the sprayingunit and/or at (or near) the connection between the spraying unit andthe main water faucet and/or at (or near) the diverting mechanism thatdiverts water from the main water faucet to the pull-up spraying unit.In some embodiments, optionally, the entire pull-up spraying unit may beremoved from the water faucet system (e.g., permanently or temporarily);and/or may be replaced in a modular manner with other suitablewater-outlet units, for example, thereby converting the water faucetsystem into a fixed-outlet system or a non-moving-outlet system, orthereby converting the water faucet system into a pull-out system, orthe like.

Functions, operations, components and/or features described herein withreference to one or more embodiments, may be combined with, or may beutilized in combination with, one or more other functions, operations,components and/or features described herein with reference to one ormore other embodiments, or vice versa.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated fromthe following detailed description, taken in conjunction with thedrawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is a pictorial representation of a water faucet constructed inaccordance with an embodiment the present invention, as viewed fromabove a work surface in which the faucet is installed, wherein theauxiliary spout is in a retracted position;

FIG. 1B is similar to FIG. 1A, but wherein the auxiliary spout is in anextended position;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the faucet of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial side view of the faucet of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded, schematic diagram showing the flow anddistribution of water supplied to the faucet of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side-sectional, partially exploded view of a faucet body 16and main spout 20 constructed in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of main spout when rotated from a firstposition to a second position;

FIG. 7A is a bottom view of the faucet body of the invention, showing abase opening for the hoses through which water is provided to the mainspout and the auxiliary spout, the eccentric positioning of both themain spout supply hose and the auxiliary spout supply hose relative tothe axis of rotation of the main faucet body, and their movementconsequent to the rotation of the main spout as shown in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 7B is an enlarged view of the base opening and its positionrelative to the axis of rotation of the main faucet body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, there is seen a water faucet, referencedgenerally 10, generally as described above, installed in a single hole12, formed in a work surface or platform 14. Typically, but way ofnon-limiting example only, hole 12 has a diameter which is typically 35mm as known in the art. Faucet 10 includes a faucet body 16 which mayhave an outside diameter of 35-50 mm as known in the art, and issupported on platform 14 via a housing 18 and shank 29. Body 16 isrotatable relative to housing 18 which has a fixed position relative toplatform 14, and both are held in position via a suitable system offasteners as illustrated and as generally known in the art. Faucet body16 has a main spout 20 to which water is supplied as shown and describedherein, inter alia, in conjunction with FIG. 4, by suitable operation ofselector handle 5 and mode selector switch 24, mounted onto auxiliaryspout 26. Operation of handle 5 and mode selector switch are generallyas known in the art and are thus not described herein in detail,Auxiliary spout 26 is extendably mounted onto a rearward facing portion28 (FIG. 1B) of faucet body 16. As described above, mode selector switch24 may be any suitable switch, lever, button or slider to operatediverter 40 (seen in FIGS. 3 and 4), also as known in the art.

Referring now also to FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 7A and 7B, the incorporation ofmain spout 20 and auxiliary spout 26 into a single, integrated faucet,requires a novel, bundled water flow circuitry into a single cluster offive hoses within shank 29 (FIG. 4) as described below in more detail inconjunction with FIG. 5.

As seen in the exploded view of FIG. 4, a pair of hot and cold waterhoses, respectively referenced 30 and 32, are connected to hot and coldwater supplies, respectively referenced 34 and 36. A water mixercartridge 38 (FIG. 4), as known in the art, is located within housing 18in operative association with selector handle 5. Hot and cold water issupplied to cartridge 38 via hot and cold water hoses 30 and 32, and amixed water supply is delivered from cartridge 38 to external diverter40, via intermediate hose 42. Water reaching diverter 40 may then besupplied either to main spout 20 or to auxiliary spout 26, via mainspout hose 44 or auxiliary spout hose 46, respectively, depending on theoperation of the mode selector switch 24.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 7A, the respective positions of thefive hoses are shown, wherein hot water hose 30, cold water hose 32 andintermediate hose 42 are seen to extend through suitable openings formedin the base 48 of housing 18. Main spout hose 44 and auxiliary spouthose 46 extend up into main body 16 through the housing 18, as describedbelow.

A well-known problem of extendable hoses of spray faucets is that theextendable hose, which is required to move freely through the mainfaucet body, frequently becomes stuck, even though it is the only hosewhich extends through the faucet housing. For this reason, it is knownto make use of a counterweight to assist in pulling the hose backthrough the main body of the faucet when seeking to retract the sprayhead.

Due to the desire to limit the overall external diameter of the faucethousing to those generally accepted within the field, typically, 35-50mm, as well as the requirement to provide a flow of water by both themain spout and the auxiliary spout, thus, in the present example,limiting the minimum external diameter of their associated hoses to noless than 8 mm, a base opening, such as the illustrated shaped opening50, is formed in base 48 to accommodate the two hoses. It will beappreciated that main spout hose 44 is static and auxiliary spout hose46 is arranged for extension and retraction.

The main spout hose 44 is positioned along a main axis 102, which isparallel to but spaced from the axis of rotation 103 of the main body 16and main faucet 20, by a distance or eccentricity denoted as ‘e1’ (FIG.5). Furthermore, the auxiliary spout hose 46, extends through housing 18along a first auxiliary axis 104 which is parallel to but spaced fromthe rotation axis 103 by a distance or eccentricity denoted as ‘e2’.

As seen in FIG. 5, the auxiliary spout hose 46 extends through anauxiliary opening 52 formed in an upward facing base portion 56connecting faucet body 16 to housing 18, thereafter to connect to theauxiliary spout 26. Auxiliary opening 52 defines a second auxiliary axis106 along which the auxiliary spout hose 46 connects to the auxiliaryspout 26. Second auxiliary axis 106 is parallel to but spaced from theaxis of rotation 103 by a distance or eccentricity denoted as ‘e3’.

In order to facilitate extension of the auxiliary spout 26, auxiliaryspout hose 46 is provided with an additional length of hose which isadapted to hang down beneath the faucet and work surface 14 whenauxiliary spout 26 is in an at rest, retracted position. When auxiliaryspout 26 is extended from the main body 16, as seen in FIG. 1B, all orsome of the additional length of hose is pulled through base opening 50and auxiliary opening 52, as required.

When main spout 20 is at an initial “zero” position relative to thefaucet body 16, as illustrated in FIG. 2 and as shown schematically asposition “0” in FIG. 6, auxiliary spout hose 46 is retractedsubstantially along axes 104 and 106, being accommodated, in the presentexample, by a U-shaped depression portion 54 (FIG. 7B) of base opening50, seen in FIGS. 7A and 7B.

However, when main spout 20 is rotated to the position indicated as “I”,for example, thus rotating faucet body 16 relative to housing 18, thishas the effect of applying a rotational force to both main spout hose 44and auxiliary spout hose 46, pulling them in a lateral movement to oneside or another, as shown by arrows 58 and 60 in FIG. 7A, depending onthe direction in which main spout 20 is rotated. The extent of thepulling on each of the hoses is a function of the eccentricities e1, e2and e3, and of the angle of rotation of main spout 20. In theillustrated example, base opening 50 opening is thus formed withadditional end depressions 62 and 64, to accommodate the relativetwisting motion of auxiliary spout hose 46 relative to main spout hose44, while still allowing sufficient freedom of lateral movementtherebetween when auxiliary spout hose 46 is extended or retracted whenextending or retracting auxiliary spout 26.

While certain features of some embodiments have been illustrated, anddescribed herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, andequivalents may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, theclaims are intended to cover all such modifications, substitutions,changes, and equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mixer water faucet for installation through abore in a work surface in proximity to a water supply, which includes:a) a stationary housing extending transversely through the bore; b) afaucet body mounted onto said housing, rotatable relative thereto; c) amain spout and an auxiliary spout extending from said housing; d) a mainwater supply hose for conveying water to said main spout and anauxiliary water supply hose for conveying water to said auxiliary spout,said main water supply hose and said auxiliary water supply hoseextending through said housing; e) a diverter for selectably directing asupply of water to said main spout and said auxiliary spout, and whereinsaid main spout rotates about a rotation axis extending through saidfaucet body, said rotation causing a lateral movement and partialtwisting of said auxiliary water supply hose with respect to said mainwater supply hose thereby to allow freedom of movement of said auxiliaryspout and said auxiliary hose during extension and retraction thereof.2. A mixer water faucet according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliaryspout is removably mounted onto a rear portion of said faucet body foruse at a location relatively remote from said main spout, and saidauxiliary water supply hose is adapted for extension through saidhousing when said auxiliary spout is removed from said faucet body, andfor retraction through said housing when re-mounted onto said faucetbody.
 3. A mixer water faucet according to claim 1, wherein saidauxiliary spout is a pull-up water spraying element which is located andmounted behind said faucet body and is held or mountedgenerally-vertically therebehind; and said pull-up water sprayingelement is releasable from the faucet body by being pulled in an upwarddirection.
 4. A water faucet according to claim 1, wherein saidstationary housing has a base having a base opening formed therein andan upper portion having formed therein a main opening aligned with saidbase opening, and further having an auxiliary opening communicating withsaid base opening aligned along an auxiliary axis, eccentric from a mainaxis, said main water supply hose enters said housing through said baseopening, and exits said housing though said main opening, and saidauxiliary water supply hose enters said housing through said baseopening adjacent to said main water supply hose, and exits said housingthrough said auxiliary opening, the alignment of said auxiliary watersupply hose translating from a first auxiliary axis on entry into saidbase opening to a second auxiliary axis on exit from said auxiliaryopening, wherein said first and second auxiliary axes are eccentric withrespect to said rotation axis.
 5. A mixer water faucet according toclaim 4, wherein said base opening is formed to allow said lateralmovement and partial twisting of said auxiliary water supply hose withrespect to said main water supply hose with respect to each other.
 6. Amixer water faucet according to claim 5, wherein said main water supplyhose is aligned along said main axis which is eccentric with respect tosaid rotation axis.